diatómico

Diatómico refers to a molecule composed of only two atoms. These atoms can be either the same element, forming a homonuclear diatomic molecule, or different elements, forming a heteronuclear diatomic molecule. There are seven elements that naturally exist as homonuclear diatomic molecules under standard conditions: hydrogen (H2), nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), fluorine (F2), chlorine (Cl2), bromine (Br2), and iodine (I2). These are often remembered by the mnemonic "Have No Fear Of Ice Cold Beer".

In contrast, heteronuclear diatomic molecules are formed from two different elements. Examples include carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen chloride (HCl), and nitric oxide (NO). The bonds within diatomic molecules can be single, double, or triple, depending on the number of electron pairs shared between the two atoms. The diatomic nature of a molecule significantly influences its physical and chemical properties, such as its reactivity, boiling point, and melting point. Studying diatomic molecules is fundamental in understanding chemical bonding and molecular structure.